INVASION Volume 2, Part 7: From Whence Love Comes.
DISCLAIMER: TENCHI MUYOU! is copyright AIC/Pioneer LDC. I do not claim any rights what-so-ever. However, this story is entirely of my own imagination and I ask that no changes be made. Feel free to distribute this story as freely as desired.
FOREWORD: Zak finally makes his move. The true action happens here. There's a little bit of naughty language about halfway through.
AUTHOR: Dreamr
EMAIL: TrueDreamr@Hotmail.com
LAST REVISION: 9 August 2002
BEGIN CHAPTER 7.
Looking around, Washu decided she did not like where she was. The terrain was rocky and devoid of vegetation. There was no color, only varying shades of gray. The flat blue sky seemed lifeless and dead. She immediately tried to establish mental contact with Ryoko. But the link was still mute. On the positive side, her powers were restored, not that they did her any good now. For once, Washu allowed herself a string of expletives that would have made a space pirate's ears bleed. Thus vented, she set to figuring out where she was and how to get home.
Standing before the small table in the hallway at home, Tenchi held the telephone receiver to his head. The phone number to Zak's apartment lay on a ragged piece of paper before him. He had waited until the next morning to phone Zak and tell him Ryoko had returned again. However, that was not his only reason for calling. It was time they had a serious talk about Ryoko.
Objectively, Tenchi could not object if Zak tried to get involved with Ryoko. But now that he had had his way with her through deceit, he would no longer sit idly by. Ryoko did not deserve to be treated that way. He punched the numbers into the phone. As expected, Zak answered almost immediately.
"Zak's. How can I help?"
"It's Tenchi."
"Did you find Ryoko?"
Now that he knew the truth about what had happened, Tenchi regretted having called Zak, looking for Ryoko after she had left again.
"She came back last night."
"Thank God. But, you should have called right away. I've been worried sick."
Tenchi hesitated as he thought of a response.
"She needed some rest. Look. Why don't you come over for dinner. There's... something we should talk about."
There was a long pause on the other end before Zak responded.
"All right. Will six be okay?"
"Fine. I'll see you then." Tenchi hung up without waiting for a reply. He was nervous about what he was thinking of doing. But it had to be done. Zak had struck a bad chord with him from the beginning. There was a certain word that expressed Tenchi's dislike for him perfectly, although he was too polite to actually say it. The word he was thinking of was "asshole".
Zak put the handset back in it's place on the receiver. He inhaled deeply, then sighed.
"So, it's come to this." He regretfully shook his head. "I really tried to make it easy for you, Ryoko. But you kept going back to that damn kid. I don't understand what you see in him."
Zak went into the other room and opened a small metal lock box he had kept out of sight in his dresser until recently. Within, lay a vial which contained a substance that, when swallowed, would send a person down a slow road to death.
"Dinner is it? Stupid kid."
It was Aeka who answered the door when Zak rang the doorbell.
"Good evening, Zakaraia."
"Evening."
"Please come in. Lord Tenchi said to expect you."
"Thanks." Zak entered the Masaki home. He took off his coat and hung it on one of the wall-pegs provided for that purpose.
"If I may," Aeka addressed Zak in a quiet voice, "I feel I must mention that while I do not disagree with you removing the source of a bad influence on Lord Tenchi from this home, it would be very bad if Ryoko were to become excessively angry. I have witnessed first-hand her destructive capabilities and do not wish to repeat the experience."
"Well, rest easy, Aeka. I have no intention of getting Ryoko that mad at me."
"Indeed." Aeka examined him intently for several seconds before turning to conduct him to the main room.
Zak decided he was going to have to be very careful with what he said during dinner. Aeka sounded like she suspected something was amiss with his advances towards Ryoko. But at this point, it was not important. Everything would be finished tonight, one way or the other.
Conspicuous in her absence was Ryoko. When Zak asked about her, Tenchi explained she had begged off of dinner due to an upset stomach.
Zak spoke politely with the Masaki family members for a while as he waited for an opportunity to implement his plan. Eventually his requirement was met when Sasami asked Tenchi if he could keep an eye on the cooking food while she got some fresh garlic from upstairs. Zak jumped at the opportunity.
"I'll take care of it!"
Tenchi and Sasami looked at him in surprise.
"I feel kind of guilty for coming over all the time and not helping out. I'll keep an eye on things. I might not know the difference between ground garlic and white pepper, but I do know what to do if something threatens to boil over."
"Um, okay." Sasami agreed. "Sorry, Tenchi."
"Ah, it's okay. I don't mind." Tenchi warily eyed Zak as his guest passed him to join Sasami in the kitchen. Sasami quickly pointed out to Zak what was cooking.
"Okay, the noodles are boiling and the veggies are cooking. Just like you said, make sure nothing boils over. Oh, and don't worry about the meat, that'll go in last."
"Sure thing."
"Great. I'll be right back." Sasami rushed out the kitchen door.
Zak wasted no time. He quickly drew the vial of powder from his pocket and emptied the contents into the boiling noodles. The now empty vial immediately went into the trash. He picked up the wooden spoon lying on the counter and began carefully stirring the spiked noodles. True to her word, Sasami was back in short order.
"Everything okay?"
"Yup."
"Thanks, Zak." The diminutive cook took the spoon from his hand and used it to stir the vegetables. "Um... can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"You really like Ryoko, don't you?"
Zak was a little surprised. He had not expected Sasami to be so interested in his relationship with Ryoko. His policy of telling the truth as much as possible had kept him from being caught so far, so there was little reason to lie now. He adopted a very self-reflective look.
"Yeah."
"That's cute. But, how come she's so upset lately?"
"I... think she's mad at me."
"You should apologize if you make someone mad."
"Mmm. Do you know where she is?"
"Well, usually, when Ryoko's upset, she goes out on the roof."
Zak smiled.
"Of course. Thanks." He flew up through the ceiling.
"Oh, wait!" Sasami called to Zak. "I didn't get to tell you how Tenchi feels, yet."
A splatter of boiling water drew Sasami's attention back to her cooking.
Zak carefully settled onto the roof of the Masaki home. Just as he had found her on the shrine weeks ago, Ryoko now lay on the spine of this building as well. She did not fail to notice his arrival. As light as his touchdown was, her hearing still detected it.
"Back for more?" She sarcastically asked.
"Ryoko," Zak began. But she headed off his speech before he could even begin it.
"Would you just leave? I've told you a bunch of times already, I'm not interested."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I thought that if we were together, you would understand how I felt."
Ryoko listened only because she was unsure of whether or not Zak had truly deceived her, or if she had actually mistaken him for Tenchi. It was almost inconceivable that she had made such a terrible mistake. It had not been that dark. But, if it was her fault, she would not hold Zak responsible. The response she had gotten was exactly what she had been looking for.
"You don't have to be alone. We can be together, you and me, forever."
"I'm not alone." Ryoko replied as Zak made his way across the roof to sit down next to her.
When Zak sat down to Ryoko's left, he placed his right hand on the far side of her waist, and tried to explain his feelings while gently rubbing her side.
"Ryoko, I love you, and I want to share that feeling with you."
Ryoko sighed. She had had enough of Zak's tactics. He had gotten her in enough trouble already.
"If you don't keep your hands off me, I'll forget we used to be friends."
The gentle touch she was protesting against quickly withdrew.
"You don't really mean that, do you?"
Ryoko declined to answer.
"I'm sorry."
"All right, already. Just... go eat your dinner."
"Am I forgiven?"
Pause.
"I'll think about it."
"Are we still friends, at least?"
Ryoko growled in exasperation.
"I said I'd think about it, all right? Just leave me alone."
Zak looked at her for a long moment before acquiescing to her wishes.
"All right. But, you should come eat dinner, at least."
Again, Ryoko did not answer.
"I'll bring it up for you, if you like."
Ryoko finally lost her patience with the amorous young man. She sat up and gave him an angry look.
"All right, I'll go eat dinner! Now quit bugging me!"
"Okay, okay." Zak said, phasing through the roof as Ryoko flopped onto her back. Halfway through the red tiles, he stopped.
"I want you to know that I never lied. Not even once."
"What are you talking about?"
Ryoko's response still seemed annoyed. Zak ruthlessly suppressed the feelings he was experiencing.
"I... can't say. See you at dinner." He floated back to the third floor, where he paused to recover his composure.
"Damn it! Forget about it! It's already done."
As she had claimed, Ryoko did show up at dinner. She seemed rather reserved, but at least she ate her customary four servings. Things in general were pleasant, but, again, reserved. There was not a great deal of small talk. Soon after finishing, Ryoko found her place up in the rafters. Tenchi helped Sasami clean up and the rest of the family talked with Zak about little things.
Eventually, Tenchi found himself needing to use the restroom. After taking care of business, he took the long way downstairs, using to balcony above the main room. He chose that route because it would allow him to check on Ryoko. She was lying on one of the support beams, front down, wistfully gazing at the people below her. Tenchi followed her watchful stare to Zak.
Somehow, Zak sensed that he was being watched. He turned his head and looked up at him. He looked at Tenchi for a moment before returning his attention to the others and saying his good-byes. Tenchi made his way down the stairs to escort Zak to the door.
"I'll walk you out."
None of the girls took notice of this, although Tenchi's grandfather did raise an eyebrow. Once they were out the door, Zak stopped to initiate the discussion he knew Tenchi wanted with him.
"Okay, let me guess. You don't want me seeing Ryoko anymore."
For a moment, Tenchi stared at him in surprise before confirming Zak's statement.
"Well, yes."
Zak defiantly put his hands on his hips and glared at Tenchi.
"Since when do you make decisions like that for her?"
"It's my choice. I don't want you seeing her."
"Ah. I see. And what if I say "tough"?"
Exercising great patience, Tenchi took a deep breath before continuing. He kept his arms down at his sides in a nonthreatening manner. Zak did not seem to be taking this too well.
"Zak, go home. Don't come here any more."
"Well, it's your place. So if you want to kick me out, you can. But you can't stop me from seeing her elsewhere."
Tenchi stared hard at Zak for a couple of seconds before deciding to be a little more forceful.
"Leave her alone."
"Maybe you should ask Ryoko how she feels about this."
"We talked last night and she told me she thought you were me. That's all I need to know."
Zak's eyes narrowed.
"Well, I know how I feel, and I'm not giving up that easily. If you want her back, you're going to have to fight me for her."
Zak held his right hand out to his side. A ball of red energy appeared. He squeezed the ball, forcing it to elongate into an energy sword almost exactly like Ryoko's.
Tenchi sighed with regret. He had not wanted to have to fight. But, somehow, he had known it would end like this. Reluctantly, he pulled the Master Key from his pocket. Taking up a strong base stance, Tenchi held the sword in front of him with both hands. The blade ignited, illuminating the side of the house with blue light.
Zak charged. Just as he initiated the first strike, Ryoko appeared between them. She easily blocked the sword strike, and then shoved him back a couple of steps. She angrily glared at him.
"If you want to fight Tenchi, you have to go through me, first."
Zak tried convincing her to move aside.
"Ryoko, please get out of the way."
Ryoko stood with her sword held in front of her, ready for anything.
"What am I?" She rebuked him. "A piece of meat for you to fight over? I already told you a million times, I'm not interested!"
Zak casually tapped his sword against his shoulder.
"You seemed pretty interested on the roof the other night."
Ryoko squeezed and twisted at her sword, making it spit and crackle noisily. The hissing matched the growl that emanated from her throat.
"I was, until you tricked me. The more I think about it, the more I think you're trying to get me away from Tenchi."
One of Zak's eyebrows went up.
"Well, yeah. I want to be with you. At least I'm giving you a choice. If it were up to Tenchi, you'd be locked up in this house twenty four-seven! You don't have to stay here."
In a gesture of peace, Zak allowed his sword to dissipate.
"Ryoko, come back to my place. Remember how much fun we had? It can be that way for as long as you want! All you have to do is come with me. Please?"
Zak held his arms open for her.
"I love you, Ryoko. I want to share my life with you."
Ryoko shivered as Zak professed his feelings to her. She could think of nothing else she wanted more than what he was offering to her. The sight of her sword slowly drooping was obscured by the wetness that was accumulating within her eyes.
"Ryoko," Tenchi put his hand on her shoulder, "you were always free to leave any time you wanted. If you want to live someplace else, or with someone else, you can. We'd be sad to see you go. But, I understand if that's what you want."
Ryoko looked to the house and saw that the entire family was watching her. Mihoshi was already in tears. She held a hanky in one hand, dabbing at her eyes. Sasami and Aeka stood one in front of the other. Sasami looked very supportive. Surprisingly, so was Aeka. It was a little strange to see Aeka looking at her that way. In the back was the man who had imprisoned her in that dark cave for so many years. Their eyes met, and he gave her a short nod. Ryoko's eyes went wide.
"Even Yosho supports me. Oh, man, I think I'm gonna cry."
From behind her, Tenchi spoke again.
"There's one thing that Zak and I agree on. It's your choice, not ours."
"My choice. Hmm... Let me think..." She thought for less than two seconds before coming to a decision.
"I choose TENCHI!"
Ryoko dropped her sword and threw her arms around Tenchi's neck. For once, Tenchi was not embarrassed or reluctant to accept her embrace. He did not hesitate to put his arms around her in return as she whispered in his ear.
"I love you so much."
"I know."
The sound of an energy sword igniting brought Tenchi back to the events at hand. Aeka's voice cried out to him.
"Look out!"
Time slowed to a bare crawl. As Tenchi opened his eyes, he saw Zak charging them with his sword held pointed at Ryoko's back. Anger, and the all-consuming need to protect someone he cared for, flowed through him. That inner energy flowed out of his being and took solid form between them. The Light-Hawk Wings burst into existence, protecting Ryoko from the attack.
Zak was unable to stop his headlong rush in time to avoid a collision. Wide-eyed, he stared in disbelief as Tenchi blasted him across the landscape with barely a thought. His scream of rage and disbelief echoed from the hills as he disappeared over the mountains. Tenchi returned his attention to Ryoko.
"Are you all right?"
Ryoko cuddled happily into his chest.
"That guy was a real asshole, wasn't he?"
Tenchi chuckled when Ryoko used the same descriptive term he had been thinking of.
"Something like that."
"Lord Tenchi," Aeka asked of Tenchi, "is Zakaraia to be allowed within the premises from now on?"
"Absolutely not." Tenchi firmly answered.
"Well, it's about time. Azaka! Kamidake!"
The two Guardians of Jurai appeared almost instantly.
"Finally, we get a part." Azaka observed.
Kamidake also commented on the long stretch without any mention of their existence.
"I was beginning to think we had been forgotten!"
"Zakaraia is not to be allowed onto the premises under any circumstances. Is that clear?"
"Perfectly clear, Highness."
"We understand, Highness."
There was a long moment of silence while nothing happened. Someone coughed in the background. Katsuhito gently elbowed Mihoshi in the arm.
"Oh! That's right! I have a line here!" She opened her mouth again to speak, but nothing came out. "Oh, no! I forgot my line!"
Ryoko screeched her indignation. She was in Mihoshi's face almost instantly.
"AAAHHH! That line was my set-up to score with Tenchi, you inconsiderate nincompoop!"
"I'm sorry, Ryoko, I..." Mihoshi was suddenly overtaken by a tremendous yawn. "YAAAAAWWWWNNNN! Oh, my. It must be getting late."
Yawns, being as contagious as they are, quickly started making the rounds of the family.
"Ah, the heck with it. Let's just forget the whole scene." Ryoko suggested, heading into the house for the recently rebuilt baths. "I made some changes in the bath house. Who's coming with me?"
All the girls except Sasami agreed. Another yawn prompted her to opt for her futon, instead.
"I'd love to, but I'm feeling really sleepy. I think I'd better get some sleep."
"Suit yourself. Anybody seen Washu?"
There were several negative answers.
"Hey, Tenchi." Ryoko suddenly offered, with a sly look. "You can join us if you want."
"Ah, no. Thank you." He answered, also yawning again. "I think I'm going to call it a night, too."
"Everybody's pooped out." Mihoshi remarked as she, Ryoko, and Aeka made their way into the baths.
"Well, it's no wonder." Aeka explained. "The author has had us going at a ridiculous pace this last week."
"No kidding." Ryoko remarked. "Have you read the script for the rest of the volume? What's he trying to do, kill us?"
"I want some comedy!" Mihoshi complained.
(Sorry, girls. I'll see what I can do. D.)
Zak carefully extricated himself from the fallen trees and rubble which constituted his destination, 39 kilometer from the Masaki Shrine. The blast he had taken was the strongest he had ever witnessed. For once, he was thankful of the protection his powers offered him. Unfortunately, those powers were also the calling card of his patron, and the mission her minion had assigned him.
He had been truly shocked to see a mere boy from some backwater planet generate Light-Hawk wings. Such a development was unprecedented. Nothing in his past experiences held any clue as to how he should deal with this. However, the instructions he had received now made a lot more sense. He shouted at the heavens before teleporting back to his apartment.
"'Do not fight against the boy.' No shit, Sherlock. You could have at least warned me!"
It would take an hour or so for the poison he had given them to take effect. In the interim, he had a few preparations to make before he returned to the Masaki house.
Two hours later, when darkness finally fell, Zak penetrated the sensor net the two guardians employed to monitor the perimeter of the Masaki family's home. His powers, and his expertise in the field of high-tech electronics gave him the tools to deal with many different types of security systems. He had seen more elaborate security set-ups than this on backwards industrial planets.
The first place he looked for Ryoko was on the roof. However, she was not there. He quickly moved on to the interior of the house. The television was on, and Ryo-o-ki was stretched out on the floor, unconscious. Zak intentionally avoided looking at the little girl's form. As he descended through the ceiling beams, he did not see Ryoko. His next stop was her room. Ryoko was not there, either. He scratched his head in confusion.
A blinding ball of blue energy suddenly raced towards him from the adjoining hallway. Zak barely got a shield up in time to protect himself. The energy washed over his shield, making the floor boards smoke. He stood ready for the next attack. Surprisingly, his attacker willingly revealed herself.
"I knew it was you who was responsible for this." Aeka said as she stepped into Ryoko's room. She was dressed to fight and her guardians were at the ready. Zak looked at her in surprise.
"You should be unconscious."
"Let me think, now... Ah! You must have poisoned the food while you were alone in the kitchen."
"Very perceptive of you, Princess. But, I admit I'm curious. You ate dinner with the rest of us. How did you avoid being poisoned?"
"My affiliation with my tree protects me."
"Oh, yes. The famed Royal Trees of Jurai. I hadn't considered that. Unfortunately, this means we'll have to do it the hard way."
Aeka's smile held a strong dose of danger.
"I was hoping you would say that. Azaka! Kamidake! Execute him!"
The two guardians surged forward. They got three-quarters of the way across the room before striking an incredibly strong energy field. The room suddenly got very dark. So dark, in fact, that it was almost impossible to see. Black arcs of energy crackled around the guardians, holding them in place. Zak gloated over the ease of defeated the automated beings.
"This is too easy. I could defeat an entire legion of these silly things. Hah!"
Aeka's guardians were suddenly flung back against the far wall. They struck with a tremendous crunch, sending sparks flying everywhere. The did not resume their attack. Aeka looked over her shoulder at the mess.
"Why do these things always have to happen next to my room?"
Then she noticed that Ryoko's "Wall of Junk" had been destroyed in the attack.
"Miss Ryoko is going to be frightfully angry when she sees her possessions have been damaged."
"She's going to be pissed, anyway. So that doesn't really matter anymore. Aeka, just tell me where she is."
"Absolutely not! You've poisoned the entire household! For that, you shall be punished!" This time, Aeka charged Zak herself. Her mother was considered one of the best martial artists on Jurai, and had taught her at an early age. Knowing that Zak possessed powers similar to Ryoko, she used tactics that would be effective against Ryoko in order to fight Zak.
Aeka swung and kicked at Zak with her Jurai-energy-covered hands and feet. If any one of those areas came in contact with him, it would cause him severe damage. He expertly blocked or deflected each attack, keeping himself safe from harm. When she went for a kick to the groin, their shins clacked painfully together. Aeka leapt back, hopping up and down on one foot and holding her bruised shin.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!"
"Uh, excuse me. We're supposed to be fighting here, not dancing."
"Silence, infidel!" Aeka yelled at him, resuming a ready position. "I'll have your head!"
She charged again. This time, Zak did not bother to fight Aeka on her own terms. He shot into the air. Aeka looked up and saw Zak was already coming back down from the rafters with some sort of dark weapon in his hands. Unsure of what else to do against such a strange-looking weapon, Aeka slapped her hands together and caught the blade in her hands, demonstrating just how powerful she really was. Unfortunately, she was not powerful enough.
Despite the Jurai energy that surrounded Aeka's hands, they immediately felt as if she had stuck them in a blast furnace. Leaping back with a screech of pain, she rubbed her hands, trying desperately to get rid of the burning sensation.
Zak swept past her just as she looked up. He hit her with the flat of the blade, sparing her life. However, she was not spared the pain of contact with his sword. Her entire body felt on fire. She tried to scream, but the incredible pain made her jaw clench shut, preventing the sound from escaping. The blade was suddenly removed, and she collapsed to the floor in a shuddering pile of pain. Zak stood over her, the tip of his blade swaying just over her mid-section.
"Sorry, Princess. It's nothing personal."
On rare occasions, Ryoko heard voices while reclining in the branches of the Royal Tree, Funaho. Usually, they were voices of laughing children, or puppies barking. Until she had been aboard Karin, she had thought she was going crazy from being imprisoned for so long. Now she knew it had something to do with the trees. Her usual schedule normally included spending the Spring reclining amongst the cherry blossoms that adorned the trees lining the path to the shrine. Since the time of the cherry blossoms had passed, she was back in Funaho's branches again.
A screech of pain intruded on the delightful sounds, forcing Ryoko to take notice of her environment. There was flash of light from the house. Figuring it was Aeka throwing a royal temper-tantrum, she went to have a little fun with the princess.
When Ryoko teleported onto one of the overhead beams in the main room, the first thing she noticed was how dark it was inside. Then she noticed Ryo-o-ki sprawled on the floor. Ryoko stayed absolutely still and did not make a sound as she scanned the room. There was a bit of motion from her room. Looking closer, she saw a male figure moving away from someone lying prone on the floor. As the shadow moved away, she teleported next to the person lying on the floor. At close range, she could see it was Aeka. She had her battle suit on, and dark liquid was slowly spreading across the floor. Ryoko looked up and saw that the back wall had been caved in by the damaged guardians. Her "Wall of Junk" was completely destroyed. With hardly a thought, Ryoko's sword responded to her summons. The man that was apparently responsible spun around when he heard Ryoko's sword ignite. Zak quickly spoke to her before she could attack.
"She'll live if you come with me!"
"Where's Tenchi?" Ryoko hissed through clenched teeth.
"He's been poisoned. He'll die, too, if you don't do as I say."
Ryoko shook with rage. She wanted to kill Zak here and now. But if she did, the others might die, as well.
"What do you want?"
"All you have to do is come with me, and stay away from here. If you do that, everyone lives. If not, then everyone dies."
"You son of a bitch! How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Ryoko, I have never lied to you. Right now, I have Washu trapped in an alternate dimension. Once we reach our destination, I'll let her out. She'll then administer an antidote. Don't bother trying to find one yourself, it doesn't exist. She has to invent it."
"I swear, the first chance I get, I'll kill you."
"If you try, then I'll have to kill you. And I really don't want to do that. Of course, if I don't tell you that I've released Washu, you won't know if I have. So I don't recommend you try it."
There was a long moment of silence as Ryoko considered her options. Zak had her pretty much sewn up tight. No matter she did, if she disobeyed him, her friends would die. She would have to spend a long time with him before she could be reasonably certain that the others were out of danger.
"How long do they have?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Dammit! Then how do I know if you let them live?"
"You don't. You have to stay with me because you don't know if they've been cured. I'll give you one consolation. Aeka's connection with her tree protected her from the poison. Her wound is not fatal, but she could die if she does not receive medical attention. Eventually, these people are going to be missed. Most likely Katsuhito or Nobuyuki will get here and find her."
Zak paused as he contemplated the intricacies of his plan, making sure he had left nothing out.
"Ah. Almost forgot something."
"Just my luck." Ryoko sarcastically remarked.
"You have to wear this from now on." Zak reached into his shirt and pulled out a small collar. It was almost fancy enough to call a necklace, with all the gold filigree and the small amber that dangled from it.
"It blocks your mental communication abilities. That way you won't know from Washu or anyone else if they've been cured. If you take it off, I'll know."
Ryoko glared hatefully at him. Zak tried softening the blow with some gentle words.
"I don't like killing people. It's a waste of good life. Please, come with me. Let them live. I promise I won't treat you poorly. We can even start a family together."
"I'd rather eat shit than have your kids."
"Fine. Then choose. Spend your life with me, or send your friends to the grave. Which is it?"
Ryoko had no choice but to demonstrate her reluctant acceptance of the situation. A tear rolled down her cheek as she held the collar to her throat with one hand and secured the fasteners in the rear with the other.
"You win."
"Tenchi."
Tenchi heard his name through a haze of mental pain. Something was wrong. His mind seemed to be resisting conscious thought. He wondered if maybe Ryoko had made him drink last night. Then Tenchi remembered Ryoko was gone. She had gone to live with Zak.
"No." Tenchi rejected the idea. "She came back. She came back to be with me." He struggled to regain consciousness.
"Tenchi." The voice called again. He finally identified the voice as Washu.
"Come on, Tenchi. We need your help. Wake up for me, will you?"
Tenchi pushed hard against the mind numbing pain. It did not feel like real pain. It only hurt when he pushed.
"They need me!" Tenchi pushed as hard as he could, regardless of whatever pain he felt. His eyes opened.
"There you are." Washu was leaning over him. "For a minute I thought I was too late."
Looking around, Tenchi noticed they were the only ones in his room.
"Where is everybody?"
"Can you stand?"
"Yes." He answered without thinking.
"All right, come on. There isn't much time." Washu slapped some strange cylindrical device in Tenchi's hand. He blearily looked at it.
"What's going on?"
"I have bad news. We'll talk about it on the way."
"Washu, tell me." Tenchi demanded as he rose from his bed. The pain in his head was rapidly fading away.
"The whole family's been poisoned, and if we don't hurry, Sasami will be the first to die."
Tenchi leapt to his feet.
"You should have treated her first!"
"I know. But I have to talk to you alone." Washu explained as she led Tenchi downstairs. "All you have to do is put that device to their neck and push the red button once, and ONLY once. Any more will kill them as surely as the poison."
Tenchi moved faster. Upon reaching the second floor balcony, he could see Ryo-o-ki passed-out in front of the still working television.
"What about Ryo-o-ki?" He asked.
"She can wait. You get Mihoshi. She's up in her room."
Tenchi hurried upstairs and found Mihoshi curled up in her bed. This room was his father's old study. Since Mihoshi had arrived after the first three girls, Nobuyuki had given his room to her. He needed to live closer to his work, anyway, so he rented an apartment in town during the week.
Tenchi used the device as he had been instructed. Other than a slight hiss, there was no outward sign of any change within Mihoshi. Unsure of what else to do, he went back downstairs to the room Sasami and her sister shared. He could hear Washu quietly whispering to Sasami. It somehow reminded him of when she took care of little Taro.
"Come on, Sasami, wake up. Wake up for little Washu."
When Sasami finally stirred, Washu visibly relaxed. When she stood up and saw Tenchi just standing there, she was quick to admonish him.
"What are you doing just standing there? Go help Ryo-o-ki!"
Tenchi practically ran down the stairs to the first floor to help the next victim. Washu followed close until they reached the child-like creature. As Tenchi repeated the treatment, his thoughts turned to the others. He knew his father was at his apartment in town for the week. That left Aeka, Ryoko, and Grandpa.
"Where are the others?" Tenchi asked.
Washu gently pushed Ryo-o-ki's hair back with one hand.
"Lord Katsuhito's fine. His connection with the Royal Tree Funaho should have protected him. He's probably up at the shrine being pious or something.
Sitting at the shrine desk, Katsuhito was listening to the small radio he kept in his office. He had noticed a lack of activity coming from the house.
"Things sure are quiet tonight."
"As for the other two..." Washu finally rose from her place next to Sasami. "I'll show you Aeka."
Tenchi followed Washu as she led him into her lab. A sense of dread grew within him at each step. Tenchi found Aeka on a lab table, surrounded by a soft blue glow. She was covered by a simple white sheet across her chest and hips while a strange, multi-appendaged machine suspended above the table, worked with blinding speed on a huge gash across her stomach. Washu gave Tenchi the prognosis.
"She lost a lot of blood, but with my expert medical attention, she'll make a full recovery."
Tenchi would not normally stare at a person, clothed or otherwise. However, he wanted to engrave the sight of Aeka, lying gravely injured, into his mind.
"Who did this?"
"Tenchi, I wasn't here when this happened, but I'm almost positive it was Zak. I went to have it out with him about Ryoko after she came back the second time. I don't know how he did it, but he locked me in the eighth dimension. Not that that was a big problem. My lab exists in twelve dimensions. So manipulating dimensional barriers is almost second nature to me. I was gone for less than twenty four hours."
"It was long enough. Where's Ryoko?"
Washu was reluctant to answer.
"Washu!"
"Gone."
Tenchi hung his head. Sensing his confusion, Washu asked him a question.
"Tell me, Tenchi, do you trust Ryoko?"
"I... want to."
"No." Washu disagreed. "You either do, or you don't. Choose."
"How can I? Everything's so screwed-up, lately! This is the third time Ryoko's run away! What if she doesn't want to come back? For crying out loud, Washu! She lived with him for almost two weeks! She even..." Tenchi stopped himself as he became aware that he was ranting.
"...had sex with him?" Washu finished the sentence.
Tenchi shut his eyes tight. He had been able to deal with the pain of Ryoko's confession, only because he had been prepared for it by Funaho. Now he had to deal with that pain. The thought of Ryoko and Zak together sent lancets of pain through his chest until he could not take it anymore. Tenchi shunted his thoughts towards happier memories.
He remembered how they all had met, and the adventures they had shared together. He remembered twice rescuing Ryoko from the clutches of evil scientists. He remembered everyone going on an interstellar treasure hunt, only to find some mysterious man from Ryoko's past who was apparently still in love with her. He especially remembered how that knowledge had made him feel. He remembered all the demands he had made of Ryoko during the family's trip to Jurai for Aeka's unintended wedding. He remembered being rescued from the cruel torture of terrorists. He remembered Ryoko saving his life from a gang of thugs. That time he had witnessed, first-hand, Ryoko's full fury as she defended him, leaving the men literally in pieces. Most of all, he remembered how his lack of trust and understanding had driven Ryoko to leave the only family she had ever known.
Tenchi lifted his eyes to meet Washu's gaze.
"There are a lot of things I don't trust Ryoko with. But, there are a few very important things I do trust her with. Please, Washu. Tell me where she is."
"I wish I knew." Washu revealed. "Like I said. Zak blasted me into the eighth dimension when I went to have a little talk with him."
"Is she in danger?" Tenchi asked, suddenly worried.
"Great danger." Washu verified.
The door to the lab opened.
"Mya?"
Tenchi and Washu turned to see Ryo-o-ki dragging herself into the lab. Washu held out her arms.
"Come to mommy."
The little girl waddled unsteadily into Washu's outstretched arms.
"Myaa..."
"I know. Listen, this is really important."
Ryo-o-ki craned her head to look up at Washu's face.
"I need you to take Tenchi to Ryoko. Can you still tell where she is?"
"Mya."
"Good girl. Remember, this is very important. Do whatever Tenchi says, no matter what, okay?"
"Myah mya."
"Yes, that's right."
Washu continued her explanation mentally.
"No matter what happens, don't let her stay with Zak. It's more important than anything, even our lives."
"Mya?"
"They're finally realizing their true potential. Don't let Zak get in the way."
"Mya."
Ryo-o-ki turned around in Washu's hands.
"Mya mya mya!"
Washu translated for Tenchi.
"She promises to help."
"Thanks, Ryo-o-ki." Tenchi sighed in relief. "Finally, I can do something."
Ryo-o-ki sped through space, hot on Zak's trail. Tenchi did not know, nor did he care how Zak and Ryoko had gotten off-planet. His only purpose was to safely bring Ryoko back.
"Ryo-o-ki, can you go faster?"
"Mya."
"Do you know how much longer it'll be?"
The response seemed less than enthusiastic.
"Myaan."
Tenchi's questions were more for his own benefit than anyone else's. It was clear where their destination was. An entire galaxy spun before them in all it's interstellar magnificence. Not knowing when they would reach their destination was torture. Tenchi remained silent for a while, allowing his anger towards Zak to fester.
"Ryo-o-ki," he asked out of the blue, "am I doing the right thing?"
"Mya myah!"
He interpreted the cat-like sounds as a positive response. Still, he had some doubts.
"But what if she left voluntarily? What if she wanted to go with him?"
This elicited a series of sounds from Ryo-o-ki that Tenchi could make no sense of.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're saying."
To his surprise, a strange pedestal rose up from the floor in front of him. Two spheres floated to either side of the flared top. They spun around the pedestal once, then remained still.
"Okay..." Tenchi experimentally put his hands on the spheres. His mind was immediately flooded by Ryo-o-ki's thoughts and feelings.
"Yes, you're doing the right thing! Ryoko really loves you. We have to bring her back. Zak's mean. He hurt Aeka. You should beat him up."
Tenchi's determination solidified.
"We'll bring Ryoko back, no matter what!"
"All right, Zak. We've been flying through space long enough. Is Tenchi safe?"
"You know I won't answer that."
Ryoko quickly changed tracks as stars streaked by in the small viewscreen.
"It's hard to imagine a way to trap Washu so that she can't escape."
"It's not that hard. Kagato did it."
"How do you know about that?"
Zak leaned back in his chair as he held up a finger.
"That, I can explain. I broke into Washu's lab near Jurai and made off with the records. Apparently, Kagato took over operation of the station after he imprisoned her. The records end when he launched the Souja."
Ryoko was quickly slipping into interrogation mode. Any information she could get from Zak would help her figure out what to do to escape her situation.
"Was there anything in there about me?"
"That's why I was there. It's kind of funny, actually. Some anonymous contact contracted me for that job. All I had to do was enter an abandoned lab and retrieve some information. There was no security or weird encryption schemes or anything. The payoff was huge, too. While I was retrieving the info, I found some pictures of a cute little girl with the strangest color hair and eyes."
Zak looked at Ryoko as he said the next part.
"That cute little girl has grown into a beautiful woman."
Ryoko waited a minute before beginning a new line of questioning.
"So, first you take Washu, now me."
Zak nodded.
"'Fraid so."
"Did you fuck her, too?"
"Ryoko, please don't talk like that."
"Who's next? Aeka? Or do you like 'em young? Sasami, maybe?"
"That's enough!" Zak finally lost his cool. "You know what it's like being a puppet dancing on the strings of manipulation! If I get you away from Tenchi, permanently, I get my freedom." Zak stuck his left thumb against his chest, indicating he was referring to himself. "Sasami's a wonderful young lady, and so are you. I wish there was another way, but there isn't. This is it."
He raised a finger to his lips, as if he were deep in thought.
"My... benefactor... originally wanted you dead. But once I started getting to know you, I convinced her that simply separating the two of you would be sufficient. Be thankful you're allowed to live."
Ryoko snarled at him.
"You sorry son of a bitch! Who the hell gave you permission to buy and sell my life?"
Zak looked at Ryoko for a moment before answering.
"Tokimi."
"Tokimi?" The name meant nothing to Ryoko. "Show her to me and I'll crash this whole pathetic party, right now!"
Zak laughed at her.
"You wish! Tokimi is a super-dimensional being. A God, Ryoko. Even you can't touch her. Besides that, you'd have to get through her servant, first."
"Let me guess. He's a God, too."
Zak just smiled with amusement.
"Something like that. Whatever his status, you'll get a crack at D3 soon enough."
Ryoko made sure to remember the names Tokimi and D3 before she moved on to another line of questioning.
"Pretty fancy ship for someone who was marooned on a backwater planet for fifty years."
Zak smiled at his own inventiveness.
"Too easy. All I had to do was build a hyperspace transmitter and let the ship follow the signal. I have to admit though, I was a little worried that it wouldn't respond to my signal. It has been fifty years, after all. It hasn't got much in the way of offense or defense. But it's faster than hell and has the best navigation systems available. It shouldn't take too long to get to our first stop. From there, we can go where ever we want."
Zak glanced at Ryoko out of the corner of his eye.
"How about a nice resort planet? Sun and fun?"
Ryoko turned away. For the time being, she buried her anger, rather than lashing out at Zak and making him pay for the pain he was inflicting upon her. But, for Tenchi's sake, she held it in, saving it for the right time.
Ryo-o-ki was straining herself to reach Ryoko as quickly as possible. She remembered the basic layout of the local cluster, and the galaxy before her had not been there seven hundred years ago.
"Ryo-o-ki," Tenchi interrupted her thoughts, "how much longer will it take?"
"Myah." Again, her response was less than encouraging.
"Would it be all right if I took a nap?"
"Mya!" Ryo-o-ki was receptive to the idea. This was a task she could easily help Tenchi with. A bed mystically appeared behind him, confirming her positive response.
"Thanks. Wake me up if anything happens, all right?"
"Myooow."
When Tenchi laid down on the bed, he found it to be very comfortable. He was just drifting off when he realized the irony of the situation. Now it was he who was sleeping in Ryoko's bed, instead of the other way around.
Ryoko watched as amazing sights passed by. Huge Greek columns hung in space, suspended by nothing. A vast ocean stretched out below them as they rode some strange version of conveyor belt to their destination. They stood on the flat surface of a sheet of metal which formed a ring around an empty point in space. There was no apparent propulsion system, yet it moved effortlessly through the air. Ryoko blinked in surprise when a whale breached the water's surface.
She quickly put the weird experience out of her mind. The only thing that mattered was the people at her destination. They would die by her hand. She began thinking of the different ways she knew of disemboweling a person.
Tenchi was awakened when gravity suddenly went haywire. He was thrown several feet into the air, then came crashing down on the bed. Quickly recovering, he looked around.
"What? What's going on?"
"Mya myah!"
Tenchi noticed the ships. Uncountable lines of the same ships that had attempted to invade Jurai extended far into space. There were so many, he could not even begin to try and count them. They floated serenely, ignoring Ryo-o-ki's passage.
"This must be where those ships from before came from."
As Ryo-o-ki continued on in a straight line, Tenchi's eyes grew wide at the surrealistic scenery that passed. Massive columns and waterways flashed by as they neared their objective.
"Myah! Mya myan!"
A square viewscreen appeared before Tenchi, revealing scores of ships following them.
"Can you lose them?"
The ground features streaked by at an even faster rate.
"Mya-a-a-a!" The strain of maintaining such incredible speed began to show in Ryo-o-ki's voice. However, the trailing ships began to recede.
As the odd surroundings quickly passed by, Tenchi noticed a plain, white, dome ahead. When they got closer, he discovered it looked just like an igloo. He scratched his cheek.
"Is that where we're going?"
"Mya."
"Yeah. Great. Just what I need. Alien Eskimos from outer space."
Tenchi also noticed a small, sleek-looking ship sitting on a landing platform adjacent to the igloo. Ryo-o-ki immediately altered course, making a bee-line for the platform.
"Ryo-o-ki, I don't think there's enough room for us to land there."
There was no change in speed or direction as the ship loomed closer.
"Ryo-o-ki!"
"Mya-a-a-a-a-a-a!"
Tenchi's eyes went wide as he realized his ride was not going to stop. Closing his eyes, he assumed "The Crash Position". He was thrown across the floor as Ryo-o-ki plowed into the ship, which then exploded as it's fuel was consumed in a massive fireball. The burning fuel quickly burned off, leaving only the charred wreckage of a once speedy ship, and one angry cabbit.
"Mya!"
Huge columns of marble stood around the perimeter of the area. Ryoko rolled her eyes at the pompous display of architecture. As she looked around for any sign of life, Zak began issuing her instructions.
"Bow."
"Kiss my ass."
"I'd be happy to, later. For now, you must bow."
"Screw off!"
"Suit yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Zak got down on all fours and prostrated himself before nobody.
"Lord D3. I have completed my mission."
An immense male voice echoed from the cosmos displayed before them.
"No, Zakaraia. Though the girl stands before us, she remains undecided. She must choose."
Zak rose from the ground and faced Ryoko.
"So. Now you must choose. Stay with me and live your life in comfort, or fight me to the death. I don't want to kill you, Ryoko. But, that's the only other option."
Ryoko bared her fangs and literally growled at him.
"I'd rather die than spend another moment with you."
Ryoko looked up, addressing the invisible person the black expanse of space.
"And as for you, cheese-dick, you're next!"
A chuckle emanated from the black expanse, sending Ryoko into a rage at D3's mockery of her.
"You think I'm joking!?" Her eyes blazed and the air swirled around her. A moment later, everything was engulfed in an energy discharge large enough to crack a small moon.
Ryoko defiantly stood within the superheated air as it quickly cooled towards something resembling it's normal temperature. Looking around, she was surprised to see there was still a floor remaining. She was even more surprised when she looked towards where Zak had been and saw him protected by a set of black Light-Hawk Wings.
Her initial reaction was shock. Zak should not be able to do that. Then she felt angry. Only her Tenchi could do that. Her anger soon changed to consternation at being foiled, then acceptance. Even the most powerful defense mechanism in the universe was useless against her. A nasty smile spread across her face as the air cleared.
"That won't help against me." Ryoko's sword coalesced in her hand as she started to make her way towards Zak. "I eat Light-Hawk Wings for breakfast."
"That's funny. I thought you preferred eggs."
With a fierce battle-cry, Ryoko charged.
"Ra-a-a-h!"
Tenchi took a quick look around and then addressed Ryo-o-ki.
"You're our ride home, so don't get hurt, okay?"
"Mya-a-a!"
Turning to the entrance to the igloo/dome, he ran inside the arched entryway. It was not very far before he found a set of large portal doors, inscribed with a great deal of writing he could not understand. There were no doorknobs, latches, windows, hinges, or anything else that indicated whether or not the doors could even be opened. But through them, he could hear the sounds of a battle raging. He pounded on the door with his fist.
"Aw, come on! What's with the sealed doors, again? Don't tell me Doctor Clay's behind all this?"
Ryoko was not happy. All the advantages she enjoyed over Zak meant absolutely nothing if the only way to fight him was at close range where his superior sword techniques would cut her to ribbons. She could blast away from long range all day without effect if he simply deflected the bolts. Sometimes he even deflected her blasts with his sword! She felt like he was taunting her.
What was worse, the small cuts he inflicted on her with his pseudo-Light-Hawk sword were not healing. The small wounds trickled red blood. It was a sight she was not used to seeing. The limits of her own mortality were suddenly becoming very clear.
She fired another energy blast at her opponent. Zak avoided the strike by teleporting straight towards her. His aggressive move caught her by surprise. He body-checked her at full speed, slamming her into the closed doors. Oddly enough, she could hear Tenchi's tiny voice through the door.
"Open the door!"
"Tenchi?"
Zak's eyes went wide.
"Impossible! There's no way! I haven't let Washu out, yet!"
Ryoko laughed at him.
"That's what you get for messing with my Mom! Now that Tenchi's here, he's gonna kick you ass!"
Zak's confidence in his superior position reasserted itself.
"No, I don't think so. Even he can't open that door." He spoke from his position just away from her. "You can stay there and talk to him if you like, but that'll just make my job easier."
Zak fired at her, making sure to follow up with a physical attack this time. His shot just missed, striking the door instead of Ryoko. He landed right where she had been. Before he could turn to fire again, the doors exploded inwards, sending him rolling across the scorched stone floor.
"Wha?" Zak shook his head to clear his senses.
Ryoko flew across the room and disappeared into the cloud of smoke and dust. Once the cloud dissipated sufficiently for Zak to see, he was greeted by a very unwelcome sight. Tenchi emerged from the ruined portal with the Light-Hawk Wings held steadily before him. Unlike the last time, he wore the flowing white robes of a Prince of Jurai.
"Zak, let Ryoko go. It doesn't have to be this way."
"I'm afraid it does, kid. Ryoko is the price for my freedom. But, she doesn't have to die!"
He addressed the girl standing behind Tenchi.
"Ryoko, come with me! You can live, Tenchi can live, we can all live! All you have to do is leave with me! Tenchi will be safe. No one will ever threaten him again. I promise."
"You promise?" Ryoko spat on the ground. "That's what I think of your promises!"
Tenchi informed Zak of his view of the situation.
"Ryoko's going home. Don't try to stop us."
"Zakaraia." The booming voice spoke. "Enough games. Destroy her."
Zak glared at Tenchi.
"Tenchi, I want you to know it's your fault Ryoko has to die."
"My fault?"
"I hope you intend on fighting, 'cause I'm looking forward to this!"
Tenchi spoke to Ryoko while keeping his eyes on Zak.
"I'll take care of this."
"No way!"
Tenchi looked at her in surprise.
"You heard what he said. I'm the one he's trying to kill. If you think that I'm going to stand around while someone's trying to kill me, then forget it. Besides, we fight together, right?"
Tenchi's expression softened when he was reminded of his words to Ryoko last autumn. He returned his stare to it's original target.
"Right."
"This is nuts!" Zak yelled at them. "You can't possible beat me!"
"Maybe." Tenchi answered. "But we'll die trying."
"Right on!" Ryoko agreed.
"Augh!" Black energy arched and spat around Zak as he grew angry. The energy storm became so intense that he was hidden from view for a second. When he became visible again, he was garbed in black robes that iridesced red, giving the illusory appearance of him being clothed in flame. He grasped a bolt of energy in both hands. It immediately obeyed his mental command and straightened into a two-handed sword that was all of two meters long. He then pointed a finger at them.
"I'll prove it! I'll prove to you I'm the best!" Zak fired an array of energy bolts to cover his next attack. He teleported behind the pair, hoping to catch them with the unconventional tactic. He was very surprised to find Ryoko gone and Tenchi already armed and ready to strike.
Instead of swinging directly at Tenchi, Zak merely swung his upraised sword, vertically in front of him, catching Tenchi's counterstrike against his blade. He quickly crouched, and whipped his sword up over his head just in time to catch Ryoko's sword against his. Cursing himself for indulging in such a reckless attack, Zak let loose with a strong kinetic wave, pushing both Tenchi and Ryoko out of reach.
Ryoko blasted at him as she came to a stop. Zak deflected the energy bolts with the flat of his sword, sending them at Tenchi, who had to stop quick to fend off the projectiles.
While Tenchi was busy defending himself from the redirected attack, Zak moved in on Ryoko. They exchanged a flurry of sword strikes. Zak found himself growing more impressed with Ryoko's abilities the more they fought. He could feel her desire to win with every strike. A gust of wind reminded him he had two opponents, not just one. He ducked, narrowly avoiding getting cut-off at the chest by Tenchi's Light-Hawk Sword.
Ryoko's next attack came right on the heels of Tenchi's. As he came up, Ryoko swung across at him. Zak swung his blade down across his front at an angle, hoping to knock her sword from her hands. However, as he expected, Ryoko's strength allowed her to keep hold of the weapon as he pushed it aside. Instead of pinning her sword, Zak swung back the way he had come, spinning around in a circle. Ryoko leaned way back to avoid the swipe. Cyan strands floated to the ground as Zak's sword swung just past her face. It met Tenchi's sword just above his hands. The impact broke Tenchi's grip, sending the Light-Hawk sword spinning through the air. Freed from it's master's control, the weapon quickly evaporated.
Zak quickly spun back around again as he stepped out to Ryoko's right-hand side. He blocked her sword out, away from her body. Ryoko's eyes went wide as she found herself looking right at the deadly edge of Zak's sword.
"Victory!" Zak thought. He leaned forward to drive the weapon through her. Suddenly, a pair of powerful arms locked around his right arm, preventing him from finishing her.
"Do it now!" Tenchi shouted.
Ryoko swung at Zak intending to gut him with the tip of her sword. He teleported just in time to avoid the killing blow. To Ryoko's dismay, she saw Zak reappear directly behind Tenchi. His sword swung high in preparation for a deadly overhead slice. Ryoko teleported between them just in time to intercept the strike. As she held her sword over her head with both hands, she realized she may have made a fatal error.
Zak was using some alternative version of the Light-Hawk sword. If it possessed the same level of power as Tenchi's sword, she could never hope to stop such a powerful attack. But, if she did not, Tenchi would die.
In a last second act of desperation, she redirected all the power of the gems into her sword. The blade glowed white with power just as Zak struck. There was a flash of light, and for a moment, Ryoko thought she had succeeded. Then her glowing blade shattered. Zak's sword continued completely through her on its way to the ground.
"Tenchi..." Ryoko murmured, collapsing into his arms.
Along with his desire for freedom, Zak's powers also faded when he saw what he had done. Although he had won his freedom, he felt as if he had lost something much more important. He listened carefully as Tenchi and Ryoko spoke their final words to each other.
"Ryoko, hold on!"
"I'm sorry," she grimaced as phantom energies began consuming her body, "I didn't understand sooner."
"No. It's my fault. I... I never..."
The energies were rapidly consuming Ryoko's body. Tenchi had only a moment to say what truly needed to be said.
"I never told you I love you."
Ryoko's last act was to smile for Tenchi. She watched through fading vision as a tear fell from his face. Three orange gems bounced across the floor a couple of times, then rolled into a small depression, and then were still.
Ryoko's mind followed Tenchi's teardrop through the infinite darkness. She followed the tear until it burst into three pieces. The trio of droplets shot apart in equidistant directions, and quickly vanished from sight. Once again, she was alone in the dark.
"Some one must have made a mistake." She thought. "This doesn't look like Hell."
For a while, she let the lack of sensory input permeate her being. Then she remembered why she hated being alone.
"Where are all the other dead people?"
"Only people see people." A voice spoke from directly behind her.
Ryoko spun around in surprise. Then she nearly screeched in fright. A horribly deformed and grotesque woman with fangs almost big enough to call tusks, a wild head of wiry, emerald-green hair, huge pointed ears, and burning yellow eyes stood before her. Despite first impressions, she could easily tell the creature was female. The demon, as Ryoko supposed it was, wore no clothes. Although it did possess a rather well-formed body. Her large breasts bounced around as she moved.
"Who, or what, are you?"
"Me?" The creature smiled viscously. "I'm just a monster, come to welcome you to Hell. But, this is your own, personal Hell. You don't get to see the other dead people because you're not a real person. Your..." it snickered at her, "Mommy, created you in a lab. You're not real, so you don't go to the same Hell as the real people."
"I am too, real!"
"You wish! You're a test tube creation; an unwanted one at that. That's why Mommy let Kagato have you. She didn't want you."
"Take it back!" Ryoko yelled at the demon.
"Why should I? It's the truth, and you know it."
Ryoko swung at the horrible creature, hoping to make some improvements to it's ugly mug.
"Stop it!" Another, similar, voice shouted.
Both Ryoko and the demon looked where the shout came from. This time, Ryoko recognized the newcomer. However, she had some difficulty believing what she was seeing. It was herself, sort of. She was dressed in a ridiculous, frilly, white dress with entirely too much lace. The demon groaned.
"Not you, again. I thought I told you to get lost."
"I did." The new Ryoko answered. "I didn't know what to do, so I let you run things for a while. But, now I'm back. You really messed things up, you know."
"Oh, look who's talking!" The demon went to the second Ryoko and began circling around her, hurling insult after insult.
"Look at you! You look like a pretty little white flower; all cute and innocent. What a load of crap! You're ridiculous! You're totally embarrassing! How can you stand to even look at yourself? Ugh! I'm getting nauseous just looking at you! What are you supposed to be, a virgin? That's a laugh. The little whore wants her virginity back. Ha-ha!"
Something the demon said clicked in Ryoko's mind. The embarrassing part seemed familiar. Now that she was thinking about it, so did that dress. The demon was right about one thing; it was ridiculous. She would never even consider wearing it. But the more she looked at it, the more she remembered. She had worn it, about a year ago, right after Washu had merged her with Zero.
Ryoko's jaw dropped when she realized it was Zero standing before her. She looked at the demon again and realized it was also a version of herself, just on the opposite side of the spectrum from Zero. The Demon, as Ryoko was beginning to think of the first version of her, was still spitting obscenities that would make any space pirate proud. Zero argued back, trying to justify herself to The Demon. 1Ryoko's initial impression of the argument was surprise. The Demon was really tearing into Zero for no reason other than she was just being emotional. Her raw emotionalism still felt embarrassing, but it was not so grating as before. As for The Demon, she seemed excessively aggressive. Ryoko had learned something about getting people to do what she wanted through nonviolent means. It seemed like The Demon was yelling just because she could.
"Hey." She tried to get their attention.
The arguing women ignored her.
"Hey, you!"
"What?" They both snapped at her.
"Do you really... hate each other?"
Their answers were as opposite as Ryoko expected.
"No." Zero answered.
"Yes!" The Demon confirmed. "She drives me nuts! Look at her! All flowery and prim and proper, just like Aeka. I swear I'm gonna be sick! That's why you'll never have Tenchi."
The Demon sauntered to Ryoko's side.
"You make him sick, too. I'll beat all of you. And when Tenchi's mine, I'll show him all the ways I can bring him pleasure, and maybe a little pain, if he likes it that way."
Ryoko spun around and slapped The Demon across the face.
"That's why Tenchi never wanted to get close! Because of stupid ideas like that!"
The Demon stared at Ryoko for a moment, then started laughing.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! What? Do you hate me, now? Go ahead. Destroy me, if you can."
They glared at each other while Zero looked on.
"You've gotten soft, Ryoko. I'm just as disgusted of you as I am of her."
Despite the insult, Ryoko found herself smiling. She definitely was not fond of The Demon. But she knew what the truth was, and that was enough.
"They were right. I am a terrible liar."
The Demon looked at her as if she had just grown a second head.
"Since you're me," Ryoko pointed at The Demon, "she's me," she pointed at Zero, "and I like myself, there's no way you can be disgusted with either of us."
Ryoko's alter-egos hit the floor.
"In fact, this whole confronting myself thing is so stupid, I don't think I'm really dead!" She looked out into the darkness. "Who's screwing with my mind?"
"I am."
Ryoko instantly recognized Washu's voice. When she turned to give the diminutive scientist what-for, she was surprised to find Washu wearing her adult form. Her strange outfit added to the disconcerting sight.
"Surprised?" Washu asked.
Ryoko's eyes narrowed.
"Not really."
"It occurred to me a while back, that if you couldn't love yourself, how could you ever love Tenchi?"
"That's none of your business!"
"Actually, it is. You see, your body was destroyed. It's lucky for you your mother is so smart, or you really would be dead."
"Huh?"
"Remember what she said when you lost that fight with Aeka?"
"That was your fault!" Ryoko accused her.
"Only indirectly. But seriously, think about it. I'll give you a clue. It has something to do with memories."
"Rrr..." Ryoko growled mildly. She was not inclined to cooperate, but the mere mentioning of those events set her mind in motion. That particular evening was still fairly fresh in her memory, and Washu's words came easily back to her.
"The gems! I'm... inside them?"
"Bingo!"
"So what are you doing here, and why do you look so weird?"
"That's personal."
"Figures."
"But, I'll tell you something else." She paused for dramatic effect. "You can go back."
"How?" Ryoko immediately demanded.
"Why should I tell you?"
Ryoko smiled. She had been waiting for an occasion like this.
"Because I'm your daughter."
A very wry expression found its way to Washu's face.
"Let me rephrase the question. Why do you deserve to go back?"
"Why not?"
Washu glared at her with irritation.
"I'm not screwing around, here, girl. Washu can't create a new body for you in anything resembling a timely fashion. If you want to be back with Tenchi, you need to justify yourself to me. I'm not giving up what little existence I have left if you're just going to screw things up!"
"What the hell are you talking about?
Washu stared intently at Ryoko for several seconds.
"Ryoko, for you to go back, I have to die."
"Uh, wait a minute."
"I'm willing to do this for you. But only if you aren't going to abuse my power."
"Well, you know me..."
"Yes, I do. That's the problem. You have a temper. You're lazy. You take what you want, even when it belongs to someone else."
"That's not my fault! How was I supposed to know what was right and wrong? Nobody ever bothered to tell me the difference until I met Tenchi!"
At that point, Ryoko found her answer.
"Tenchi loves me. He said it, not me. We love each other. Isn't that reason enough?"
Washu grinned.
"Love is a very good reason."
"I swear I won't mess it up. Just send me back. Look, I'm asking nicely. Please? Please send me back. I'll even call you 'mom' from now on."
Washu laughed when Ryoko promised to call her 'mom'. She held out her hand. The three gems floated above her palm. When Ryoko tried to take them, her hand passed completely through them without any effect.
"Hey. What gives?"
"With the power in these gems, you could remake the entire universe."
"So what? As long as I'm with Tenchi, I don't care about the rest of the universe."
Washu looked skeptically at Ryoko.
"Well, that's not exactly what I had in mind. But, it'll do. All you have to do is take the gems. Then imagine yourself a new body."
"Can I make some changes?"
"If you like."
Ryoko reached for the gems again. This time, when she touched them, she felt incredible power flow through her.
"By the way," Washu added, "I'll hold you to your promise."
"What promise?" Ryoko asked as she made her wish.
"To call Washu 'mom'."
Slowly, Tenchi knelt to retrieve Ryoko's gems. He was not sure why, but he did not feel right leaving them behind. They still glowed faintly from within. As he stood, her felt anger racing through his heart. He was relieved that it was not in his nature to lash out at someone.
"Lord D3!" Zak called to the heavens. "I've done what was required of me. Fulfill your end of the deal. Release me from my debt!"
"Indeed you have. Your debt is relieved. Enjoy you freedom."
"Yeah, right. I'm outta here."
"Zak." Tenchi called to him.
"What is it?"
"I don't ever want to see you again."
Zak hesitated before answering.
"I understand."
Tenchi stared at the gems for a while before clenching his hand over them. A moment later, his palm began to itch and burn. He tightened his grip, unwilling the release the last vestiges of Ryoko's presence. The strain made small beads of sweat pop out on his brow, and a grunt forced its way from his lungs.
The small sound alerted Zak to the possibility of something being amiss. At first he thought Tenchi's look of pain was due to Ryoko's death. But when Tenchi grasped his clenched right fist with his left hand, he realized it was something else.
For a short while Tenchi did his best to keep his hand closed. But the glove on his right hand suddenly burst into flames. He immediately released the gems and tried to smother the flames against his chest. The fire was quickly extinguished, and, despite the pain of his burns, he watched as the gems whirled about in mid-air, glowing like miniature suns. They circled the small sphere of space at such incredible speed that the volume of air they encircled began to become opaque. When the opaque space stretched into the shape of a giant egg, Tenchi got a very weird idea.
"Ryoko...?"
"Zakaraia!" The voice demanded. "The girl lives! Destroy her, immediately!"
"Screw off!" Zak brazenly replied. "I'm done hurting people."
"So be it."
Black lightning streaked down from above. Tenchi shouted in defiance.
"NO!"
His power came forth again, and the angry black lightning was absorbed by the Light-Hawk Wings. Zak joined the defensive effort by adding his own wings next to Tenchi's. The two sets of wings overlapped, forming a hexagonal shield that nothing could penetrate.
"Betrayer!" The voice echoed from the stars.
"Like Hell!" Zak called back. "I'm a free man! I can do whatever I want, and I've decided to help Ryoko and Tenchi. If you want to try to kill her again, it'll be over my dead body!"
"Likewise!" Tenchi agreed.
"You can't stand there forever!" D3 reminded them.
"We don't have to!" They answered, of a like mind.
There was a loud crunching sound from behind them when the huge egg hit the floor. They both looked over their shoulder to confirm what they had heard. Then their eyes met.
"Go." Zak told him. "Get Ryoko and take her home. I'll cover your back."
For a moment, Tenchi internally debated whether or not he should trust Zak.
"Shit."
He quickly turned and ran to the cracked egg. Black lightning crashed around him until Zak adjusted his wings, providing the promised cover. After briefly inspecting the already cracked shell, Tenchi stuck his fingers into the cracks and began ripping away the hard exterior, ignoring the pain of the sharp edges digging into his burned hand. As light began to illuminate the dark confines, he found a very wet and very naked Ryoko. Once her presence was confirmed, Tenchi tore at the eggshell until the weight of the person within caused it to collapse.
"Take her and go!" Zak instructed Tenchi.
"But she's not even awake yet!"
"Just go! I can't hold him off forever!"
"Damn it!"
Sensing that he was running short on time, Tenchi crouched over Ryoko's passive form. He slipped one arm under her thighs and the other behind her back. Using the strength in his legs, he hefted her up onto his shoulder in one clean motion. She groaned as she wetly flopped over his shoulder.
Tenchi hurried to the exit with his burden, trusting Zak to cover his retreat. As he found his way under the blasted arch, he tossed another look over his unobstructed shoulder. Zak continued to cover the exit, giving him a chance to escape with Ryoko.
Zak look his way, and their gazes met. For a moment, they both felt that there was a great deal more going on than either of them knew about.
"Go!" Zak yelled for Tenchi to leave.
Another groan from the young woman suspended from his shoulder reminded Tenchi he had Ryoko's safety to think of. He turned and left Zak behind.
Zak gazed up at the darkness above him. The lightning strikes ceased as Tenchi made his getaway.
"What now, D3?"
There was a long pause. Zak had a feeling the extra-dimensional being was communing with his true patron; the one who had given him these miraculous powers.
"You must not be allowed to interfere any further." The voice told him.
Zak stared into the cosmos, feeling relief, and a little bit of regret. A moment later, an immense bolt of black energy streaked down from the heavens. He made no attempt to defend himself.
As Tenchi emerged from the arched passageway, he immediately began searching the sky for Ryo-o-ki. She had done such a good job at avoiding her attackers that now he could not find her, either. Ryoko shifted slightly as she began to regain consciousness.
"Ten...chi..."
Her semi-conscious ramblings gave Tenchi an idea. He knelt and carefully set her on the ground. The sight of her bare body reminded Tenchi he needed to cover her with something before she awoke, or she might get the wrong idea. Since he had no blanket or towel, he looked at himself, judging if any of his own clothes would suffice. When he saw that he had reverted to his Jurai battle armor, he realized he had absolutely no idea how to remove any of these garments in the normal sense. He grasped the small ring on his right hand and twisted it. The armor faded away and was replaced by his casual clothes. He breathed a sigh of relief as the familiar weight of his pants and light cotton coat covered him once more. Pulling off the coat, he draped it over Ryoko's bare chest just as her eyes cracked open.
"Welcome back."
"Tenchi?" Her eyes open fully.
"Yeah. It's me." Tenchi smiled at her.
Ryoko smiled back. Tenchi thought it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. Reluctantly, he directed her attention to more important matters.
"Ryoko, I wish we had more time, but we don't. I need your help."
"My help?" She questioned him.
"I need you to call Ryo-o-ki. She's our ride home."
"Is that all?" She smirked. "I seem to have lost my clothes, Tenchi. How did that happen, hmm?"
"I knew it." Tenchi scratched his head.
"Uh, I promise I'll tell you later. But first, call Ryo-o-ki. I don't know how much time we have left."
Tenchi cast a nervous glance at the igloo-looking chamber. Ryoko followed his gaze. The sight of the strange meeting place reminded her of how and why she was where she was. For a moment, Ryoko wondered if Zak had told the her the truth when he had said he had never lied to her.
"Ryoko, come on! Zak's holding that whatever it is back so we can escape! We can talk about it later if you want, but let's just go!"
"Anything?" Ryoko stared intently into his eyes, a hopeful smile on her face.
"Uh-oh." Tenchi realized his mistake.
"I didn't mean it like that!"
Ryo-o-ki appeared just as Tenchi was trying to think of a way to extricate himself from the situation he had gotten into.
"Mya-a-a-n!" They were enveloped in a golden light.
"Remember." Ryoko teased. "You said anything."
END CHAPTER 7.
AFTERWORD: Aww... Ain't that cute? Believe it or not, the story isn't over. Volume 2, Part 8: Epilogue, coming up, next. I briefly considered ending the entire volume here, but that just won't do. It's shorter than most of the other chapters, so you won't have so much reading to do.